Howard Stern Show fans who turned in for their Wednesday morning ration of live content got a five year old smack in the face instead.

The Stern Show rebroadcast an episode from August 2007 Wednesday instead of their scheduled live show with no explanation. The move spawned rampant speculation that Stern took the day off because of his hectic schedule on "America's Got Talent". Among the speculators was Gregg "Opie" Hughes, of Sirius XM's popular "Opie and Anthony" show--a long time rival of the Howard Stern Show.

View slideshow: Photos: Alexis Ford featured on this week's Howard Stern Show
Hughes posted this tweet Wednesday morning when news broke that the Stern Show was off air:

Breaking News - @HowardStern plain tuckered out from working 2 days this week. Takes rest of week off.

O & A co-host Anthony Cumia also took to Twitter to critique Stern last night about his altered persona on "America's Got Talent". Cumia wrote:

"I really am not bashing Howard. It's just so odd to have been a fan then to see him as this sensitive complimentary guy. A dog act? #AGT"

Since his new contract began in 2011, Stern has cut back from four days a week to three, and added extra vacation time--much to the dismay of his listeners. Since joining the "America's Got Talent" cast, Stern has complained frequently about his rigorous live show schedule. At times over the past two weeks, Stern has delivered a four hour live radio show in the morning and a two hour live television performance at night--in the same 24 hours.

Neither Howard Stern nor the Stern Show has issued any explanation for the unanticipated day off.

No they were announcing yesterday that they were running a special today so not really a blow off anymore then any other 2 day work week he has..

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Thanks for the clarification, Vashier.
As much as I wanted to believe that he blew today off (which might be in violation of his contract, thus giving Malone fuel to fire his worthless ass) glad to know the facts.

Howard Stern Show fans who turned in for their Wednesday morning ration of live content got a five year old smack in the face instead.

The Stern Show rebroadcast an episode from August 2007 Wednesday instead of their scheduled live show with no explanation. The move spawned rampant speculation that Stern took the day off because of his hectic schedule on "America's Got Talent". Among the speculators was Gregg "Opie" Hughes, of Sirius XM's popular "Opie and Anthony" show--a long time rival of the Howard Stern Show.

View slideshow: Photos: Alexis Ford featured on this week's Howard Stern Show
Hughes posted this tweet Wednesday morning when news broke that the Stern Show was off air:

Breaking News - @HowardStern plain tuckered out from working 2 days this week. Takes rest of week off.

O & A co-host Anthony Cumia also took to Twitter to critique Stern last night about his altered persona on "America's Got Talent". Cumia wrote:

"I really am not bashing Howard. It's just so odd to have been a fan then to see him as this sensitive complimentary guy. A dog act? #AGT"

Since his new contract began in 2011, Stern has cut back from four days a week to three, and added extra vacation time--much to the dismay of his listener. Since joining the "America's Got Talent" cast, Stern has complained frequently about his rigorous live show schedule. At times over the past two weeks, Stern has delivered a four hour live radio show in the morning and a two hour live television performance at night--in the same 24 hours.

Neither Howard Stern nor the Stern Show has issued any explanation for the unanticipated day off.